Got purpose?

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8


What is the purpose of this life?  
What is our purpose?  
What are we supposed to be doing here? 
We’ve been given some time on Earth…why?  
What should we be doing with that time?

I believe those are some pretty good questions we ought to be asking ourselves.  Something to ponder.  Unfortunately, a lot of folks never give them a single thought....that is until some tragic comes along.

One place my mind nearly always ends up running through a similar list of questions and ponderings is when I am sitting through a funeral service.  What should I be doing with the time I have been given?  Am I doing it?

In the movie, "Castaway", the character Chuck, played by Tom Hanks, the man in charge of a FedEx office located in some European country, gives his staff a pep talk.  Chuck tells is team, "we live or die by the clock".  If you have seen the movie, you might remember that 26 minutes into the movie, Chuck's plane crashed into the ocean and he ends up spending 4 years stranded alone on a small island.  The movie makes the point that time is valuable and we only get so much of it.  Every second counts.

Hey, can I just tell ya something?  Here's the deal:  When it comes to time, we ALL get the same 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 52 week per year.  We all get the same.  But, boy oh boy, have you been as "busy" as I have?  It seems like every year is "busier" than the year before!  It seems like there is less TIME to get things done.  There just not enough time!  Yeah...about that.

So let’s consider how it is we use our time.  How are you doing when it comes to time?  Does God have any expectations about how we live our lives and use our time?

It sure seems to me that if God wants us to think about what is admirable then we ought to also DO what is admirable.  Doing what we want instead of what God wants is a sin.  It is rebellion.  Rebellion is simply saying no to God.  Does God have expectations of us and how we spend our time?  Absolutely.

He not only has expectations, He has a plan and purpose for us.  We were created for that purpose.  However, sometimes we rebel against that purpose.  And even though we may try to justify it, rebelling is rebelling is rebelling.  And rebelling against God is a sin.

It is not as though we do not have any examples to guide us.  How did it go for ole Jonah when he rebelled against God's plan for his life?  Jonah had some learning to do.  He WAS given a second chance but God also provided an opportunity for Jonah learn a powerful lesson in the process.  Jonah rebelled.  Rebelling against God is a sin.  There are consequences...learning opportunities...for sin.

And, can I just tell ya something?  The downward progression of rebelling...sin... always starts with a small disobedience.  But, that first small step in rebellion also always has the potential for leading to spiritual disaster.  A little bit here and a little bit there and the next thing you know, it is out of control.  

It can start with something small like blowing off our daily one-on-one time with God.  Move that from daily to every other day...then it is one time per week...then it is one time per month... then it is never.  Move from being a good student of God's Word to cracking open that Bible every other day, to once per week, and so on.  The next thing you know, you are walking that guilty distance from God and you are unable to make eye contact with God.  And you are well beyond  the boundaries and the expectations of your Creator and purpose He has created you.

How are you doing with the time you have been given?  Challenge:  Read Psalm 139.  Then read it again.  Then read it one more time.  Commit yourself to some quality one-on-one time with God.  Ask Him to reveal in your heart how best to use the time you have been given and to give you the courage to live it out.